Ryan: Anonymous NYT op-ed writer is ‘living in dishonesty’

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Paul Ryan blasted the administration official who penned an anonymous New York Times op-ed that relayed efforts by White House officials to reign-in President Donald Trump.

“It’s a person who obviously is living in dishonesty,” Ryan (R-Wis.) said in response to a question at a news conference on Thursday.

Ryan added: “It (the op-ed) doesn’t help the president. So if you’re not interested in helping the president, you shouldn’t work for the president.”

When asked if Congress has a role in investigating who wrote the op-ed, Ryan said: “Not that I know of.”

The Times published the op-ed on Wednesday. In the article, the official described “quiet resistance” to the president and an informal effort to “frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.”

Among the claims in the article is that administration officials considered invoking the 25th Amendment. Under that amendment, the president can be discharged of his duties if the vice president and a majority of the cabinet decide he is unable to effectively serve.

The office of Vice President Mike Pence has refuted claims that Pence may have written the op-ed.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders blasted the unnamed official on Wednesday and requested that he or she resign.

Trump has demanded that the NYT reveal the identity of the official, for “National Security purposes.”